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Mobile device interactions through objects on a computerRelated Patent Categories: Data Processing: Presentation Processing Of Document, Operator Interface Processing, And Screen Saver Display Processing, Operator Interface (e.g., Graphical User Interface), For Plural Users Or Sites (e.g., Network)Mobile device interactions through objects on a computer description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060112339, Mobile device interactions through objects on a computer. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] N/A BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. The Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention generally relates to interactions between a personal computer and a mobile device. More specifically, the present invention provides for a persistent user interface that includes state information for attributes of a mobile device and provides an easily accessible entry point for interacting therewith. [0004] 2. Background and Related Art [0005] Computer systems and related technology affect many aspects of society. Indeed, the computer systems' ability to process information has transformed the way we live and work. Computer systems now commonly perform a host of tasks (e.g., word processing, scheduling, database management, etc.) that prior to the advent of computer systems were preformed manually. Increasingly, separate computer systems have been coupled to one another to form computer networks over which the computer systems can communicate electronically to share data. As a result, many of the tasks preformed at a computer system (e.g., accessing electronic mail, web browsing, etc.) include electronic communication with one or more other computing systems via a computer network (e.g., the Internet). [0006] More recently, computer systems have been connected to mobile devices such as mobile phones, PDAs, etc., for improving the user experience in interacting with such devices. For instance, various programming interfaces may be provided that allow mobile devices to connect to computer systems for such purposes as synchronization and/or downloading (e.g., synchronization of phone book addresses, downloading of ring tones, graphics, games and other type files, etc.). Further, mobile devices can be connected to the PC for more active user interaction such as placing a phone call, sending SMS messages, and other similar types of interaction. Moreover, such connectivity allows for configuring the phone, e.g., adjusting volume, and/or modifying or setting other functionalities associated with the mobile device. [0007] Although the above application programming interfaces (APIs) allow users to more easily interact with their mobile device, there are several drawbacks with such systems. For example, typical applications for communicating with a mobile device are sprinkled throughout a computer system. Accordingly, if a user wishes to interact with the mobile device via a personal computer, the user needs to go through a series of manual steps for initiating such interaction (e.g., go to the start menu, bring up the all programs table and scroll through the various files and executable applications until arriving at the one that corresponds to the one that the user desires to use). In addition, many of these applications are specific to a particular function of the mobile device. In other words, many applications perform only individual functions such as, e.g., downloading of ring tones, SMS interaction, synchronizing addresses, etc. Thus, not only does a user have a burden in accessing the application through the manual process, but the user must also remember that the applications exist and which program corresponds to which function--thereby diminishing the user experience. [0008] Another drawback to the above mobile device interactive APIs is that each application usually has proprietary protocols for interacting with a specific type of device. Accordingly if a user has several mobile devices that they wish to interact with, separate applications will need to be provided for accessing or interacting with each mobile device. As such, not only will these multiple applications consume valuable computer resources, but this also requires the user to further remember which programs correspond to which brand of mobile device. [0009] In addition, none of the above described applications provide a useful visual display of the features of the phone, e.g., signal strength, battery power, new messages, etc. In particular, most applications do not display the functionalities of the phone as objects in a centralized location, but rather require the user to access the particular application through such things as menus. Further, these applications do not provide for an automatic way of updating these properties associated with the mobile device. Accordingly, the user must manually request the information from the various applications. For instance, if the user wishes to determine the battery power of the device, the user must either launch the application corresponding to the battery power and/or manually request that the application update the information. [0010] Accordingly, there exists a need for a user interface that will allow for easy accessibility at a single entry point for interacting with a mobile device. Further, there exists a need for a system that is capable of automatically updating useful visual displays of features provided by the phone. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] The above-identified deficiencies and drawbacks of current computer systems are overcome through exemplary embodiments of the present invention. For example, the present invention provides for assisting a user in efficiently interacting with a mobile device by providing a persistent graphical user interface that includes objects and/or state information for one or more attributes of the mobile device. This allows direct exposure to the mobile device, without requiring the user to launch or open an application. [0012] Exemplary embodiments provide for establishing a connection to a mobile device through a mobile device programming interface. The mobile device programming interface is configured to translate between programming interface calls of a personal computer and a plurality of different mobile device proprietary protocols. Once the connection is established, state information for one or more features of the mobile device is received over the connection. In response to and based on the state information received, graphical objects for the features of the mobile device are automatically generated. These graphical objects are included in a persistent user interface at a display of the personal computer so as to provide an easily accessible entry point for interacting with the mobile device. [0013] Other exemplary embodiments provide for displaying the status of various features of a mobile device by providing a persistent graphical user interface that includes state information for attributes of the mobile device. State information for features of the mobile device is received over an established connection between the mobile device and a personal computer. The features are represented by a corresponding graphical object within the persistent user interface at display of the personal computer, which provides an easily accessible entry point for interacting with the mobile device. Next, in response to and based on the state information received, the graphical objects are automatically modified so as to provide a useful visual representation of state for the features of the mobile device. [0014] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the invention. The features and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: [0016] FIG. 1A illustrates a computer system with a mobile device interface configured to translate between programming interface calls of a computer and a plurality of different mobile device proprietary protocols in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention; [0017] FIG. 1B illustrates a persistent user interface that includes graphical objects in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention; [0018] FIG. 1C illustrates a persistent user interface which provides an easily accessible entry point for interacting with a mobile device in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention; [0019] FIG. 2 illustrates a flow chart of a method for assisting a user in efficiently interacting with a mobile device in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention; [0020] FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of a method of displaying the status of various features of a mobile device in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention; and Continue reading about Mobile device interactions through objects on a computer... 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